04 Jul 2022

Cycle4Life cycling club and Macmillan Education Botswana have, since May, donated books worth P280 000 through a Pedal for Books initiative.

The initiative saw cyclists pedaling 711 kilometres in 12 months to donate 13 939 books to 53 primary schools.

To date, Cycle4Life club and Macmillan Education Botswana, have donated to 14 schools in Gaborone and surrounding areas.

The first part of the Pedal for Books initiative started in Kumakwane in May with five schools benefiting and the second part was in Kopong in June where five schools benefited.

Recently, riders cycled to Boikhutso Primary School where four schools received the donation.

“This is a commitment that Macmillan made to assist government,” said Mr Kopano Sechele of Macmillan.

He said government faced  some challenges in the education sector, therefore he appealed to stakeholders to lend a helping hand.

He said whilst government covered text books and core supplementary for pupils, Macmillan intended to close the gap on library books.

“We are trying to cover a more important aspect of giving children a more rounded education, stretching their minds beyond the classroom,” Mr Sechele said.

He said while government had been their biggest partner, they were open to more partnerships to expand their obligation of enriching minds.

He encouraged pupils to research on trending fields to have a rounded view of the world and opportunities around the world.

Mr Sechele also urged them to read more to open new doors.

Boikhutso Primary School head, Mr Prince Motsumi appreciated the Pedal for Books initiative.

“This initiative will decide the future of children now,” he said, adding the donation would improve education.

He said they were hopeful for a long lasting partnership beneficial to all parties involved.

Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) president, Mr Kagiso Potongwane, applauded the club and Macmillan for the initiative.

“It is commendable for Macmillan Education Botswana to have partnered with the club for the donation of books,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to Macmillan for ensuring that the cycling community delivered on its corporate social initiatives.

Cycle4Life Cycling club in the past donated school shoes to different villages, sanitary pads as well as sanitisers and masks.

In 2019, the club also donated eye glasses to pupils and the elderly in Bokaa through a partnership between Dimension Data and Optical Botswana. ENDS